Student loans for very mature students

davestretty

Lets be real about this. "Motivation" in this context does not relate to some altruistic reason for starting the course of study. An admissions officer/course tutor is more concerned about the student's ability, commitment and intention to successfully complete the course of study. I am fully confident of the above.

zzzlazydaisy I understand your confusion, but some posters seem to have forgotten that the question was eligibility, and become fixated with questioning motive (motivation is very different to motive). I'm sure my wife would be interested to discuss my controlling and manipulating of her with you!! (in my dreams)

davestretty

You naïve hypocrits - in this post Thatcher and Blair world, controlled by millionaire bankers and privileged politicians, everyone is motivated by financial gain, all students included, and no-one pays out a penny more than they have to (with the exception of mother Theresa and saint Marybelle01). The hypocrisy of some posters is incredible. My motivation is education and survival, the possible financial gain is just a bonus. Maybe I could donate the money to charity (I already do) or use it to buy a seat at Cameron’s dinner table. Let everyone else eat cake!(hahahaha!)
As I have said many times before I will gladly pay back all that I have to, just as I would love to pay 50% tax (sorry only 45% now!) if I had to. I will also be happy to pay tax on any post 65 (sorry now 66) income over the pensioners tax free allowance (ooops that’s going as well).
It appears some people on here don’t realise the truth.


BTW to see what the rich really have to pay in income related taxes compared to ordinary folk (if they don't just avoid paying) look here
http://www.adamsmith.org/blog/tax-and-economy/merging-income-tax-and-national-insurance

kitchenish

As a real newcomer to this thread.....could i say THANKYOU! for starting it?
Very helpful.

(and alarmingly threatening as well.....maybe i shall avoid some people from here on out.....)

davestretty

Sorry for very late reply but due to ill mannered and ill informed idiots replying I decided to abandon the post. Since then I have established that my assertions and conclusion were correct in that as long as your course starts before age 60 the entitlement to loans continue to the end of the course, and of course repayment only commences at earning level >£21k pa (currently). Of relevance to you is that the loan repayments are only based on income and cease at death. Therefore no claim can be made on your estate. Hope this helps. I am currently waiting to start a course in Sept 2014 at age 59 and will never pay back the loans. Looking forward to continuing my education.

Other forumites and posters, I hope all this has contributed in some small way to your education too.

tomtontom

davestretty wrote: »

I am currently waiting to start a course in Sept 2014 at age 59 and will never pay back the loans. Looking forward to continuing my education.

Two years ago (March 2012) you posted:

davestretty wrote: »

I'm expecting to lose my job shortly at age 58.

You appear to have lost a year somewhere?

growler834

davestretty wrote: »

Sorry for very late reply but due to ill mannered and ill informed idiots replying I decided to abandon the post. Since then I have established that my assertions and conclusion were correct in that as long as your course starts before age 60 the entitlement to loans continue to the end of the course, and of course repayment only commences at earning level >£21k pa (currently). Of relevance to you is that the loan repayments are only based on income and cease at death. Therefore no claim can be made on your estate. Hope this helps. I am currently waiting to start a course in Sept 2014 at age 59 and will never pay back the loans. Looking forward to continuing my education.

Other forumites and posters, I hope all this has contributed in some small way to your education too.

It has certainly contributed to my education Dave. I just happened to read your thread because my 50 yr old brother has been made redundant today from his 33yrs in an industry that has practically dried up in this country. There is no way he will find another job in that industry now & I was trying to think of suggestions for him to retrain towards. He left school after his O levels so has no other qualifications. He has however been going to further education classes in French as he has a flair for languages. I was wondering if there was any mileage in suggesting he take a degree course & a teaching diploma so he could teach French but I didn't know if he would be eligible for a student loan. His wife only works part time in a clerical job & she suffers from a disease that will mean that she will be disabled & have to give up work in a few years time. Their adult children have left home & they own (mortgage) their home. Having looked into this yourself do you think it's worth me suggesting it to my brother? Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

~Chameleon~

tomtontom wrote: »

Two years ago (March 2012) you posted:



You appear to have lost a year somewhere?

Wow! Did you really go trawling through his posting history to find some anomaly you could use against him? Astounding!

Funny, but you also popped up in another controversial thread I was reading this morning.

davestretty

Sorry about that Tomtontom and all other pedants, my mistake. I'm not right good at sums and since the alzheimer's kicked in my memory's not what it used to be (or is it?).
Growler834 I could only suggest that your unfortunate brother should look carefuuly into this as it could be a lifesaver. Good luck to him.

growler834

davestretty wrote: »

Sorry about that Tomtontom and all other pedants, my mistake. I'm not right good at sums and since the alzheimer's kicked in my memory's not what it used to be (or is it?).
Growler834 I could only suggest that your unfortunate brother should look carefuuly into this as it could be a lifesaver. Good luck to him.

Thanks for that Dave - I will certainly tell him to look into it.

growler834

I feel quite sad reading this thread as I believe everyone has the right to Higher Education if they want it, as long as they intend to work hard & not waste the opportunity.
I always wanted to go to university. I always intended doing so but the summer job I got after my O Levels made me enjoy earning a wage so much that I dropped out of returning to grammar school for A levels. I then worked in the Civil Service followed by 30 years in the Police but I always promised myself I would go to university when I retired. I took A level English & History at night school through the years & then on retirement, at 49 yrs of age, I applied to one of our local universities to study English & History. I had no problem getting accepted on the course - although it was almost 20 years since I had done any studying I was welcomed with open arms by the Head of Humanities. They love having a number of mature students on their courses as they know the mature students are usually more focused, work harder & in turn encourage their younger colleagues to do the same.
Because I retired with a pension I paid my own fees & it meant it didn't matter that I had no intention using my degree for a job - I just enjoyed studying. I started my degree part time so the first year was spread over 2 years. Although the work was very hard I LOVED IT and I came top of the course both years. Although I was 30 years older than my fellow students I never felt out of place & they would seek me out to work with them as they thought I knew all the answers - fools! I was the 'grandma' of the course.
Then it all went pear shaped. Just before starting my 2nd year (or 3rd as I was part time) I was diagnosed with metastasised cancer & after major surgery wasn't fit enough to return for that year. I took a year out to recover but then they put the fees up (my £1500 a year for the remaining 4 years went up to £4500 a year). Even with my occupational pension I couldn't afford to return to my studies - I won't get my state pension for another 10 years & I am over the threshold for a student grant. My spare time also got quickly taken up with caring for my mum-in-law who had dementia for the last 4 years. If I had the time I could continue with an OU course but I love bouncing ideas off other students in a classroom environment - I thrive on this type of study.
So I wish I was in a financial position to finish my degree - my fault for not taking the free University course when I was 18! To all those who get an opportunity to do it grab it with both hands - it's hard work but well worth the feeling of achievement at the end.